Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon has asked for an urgent meeting with Defence Procurement Minister Peter Luff after the announcement that the Fort Halstead is to close by 2016.
Michael wants to ask the minister what can be done to attract more private sector science and research into the facilities at the Fort after that date.
“Some staff will not want to relocate or be able to do so. The closure of Fort Halstead is disappointing news but not entirely unexpected given the decision in 2003 to concentrate research at the DTSL sites at Portsdown West in Hampshire and Porton Down in Wiltshire, “ Michael said.
“Government, Kent County Council and Sevenoaks District Council need to work together to ensure that we replace the highly skilled scientific jobs that are being relocated.”